Flush tank



E. LEEBERG.

FLUSH TANK.

APPLICATION FILED. NOV. 13. 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

wuewtoz 3 Patented Aug. 15., 1922.

IE. LEEBERG.

FLUSH TANK.

APPLICATION FILED NOV-13. 1919.

Patented Aug. 15, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2. 11min.

EDWARD LEEBERG, OFROSELLE, NEw JEnsE FLUSH TANK.

Application filed November, 13,1919. Serial Ne 337,724.?

' To all wiz am it 772 my concern Be it known that I, EDWARD LEEBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roselle, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flush Tanks; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. .This invention relates generally to flush tanks, and more particularly to the valve mechanism for flush tanks. 1

One object of the invention is to provide a flush tank with positive means for opening and closing the inlet and outlet valvesand positive means for holding these valves in either opened or closed position, thus reducing leakage when the valves are closed to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to generally improve upon devices of this class by the provision of a comparatively'simple, strong, durable and inexpensive construction, one which will be efficient and reliable in operation, and well adapted to the purpose for which it is designed.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of the'novel features of construction, and the combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter fully described andclaimed. f

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification, and in which similar reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a flush tank constructed in accordance with this invention, showing the inlet valve closed and the outlet valve open; Y F ig. 2 is a similar view showing the inlet valve opened and the outlet valve closed;

Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the plane "indicated by the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view taken substantially on the 4 4. of Fig. 3; a

Fig; 5is a perspective view of the bracket to which the outlet valve is hinged;

' Fig. 6 is a perspective view'of the lever which holds the outlet valve in opened position; and, a

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a portion of the link which connects the outlet valve Specification of Letters Patent Yatgnted plane indicated by the line with the operating arm, showing more per ticularlythe element which is engaged by the lever just referred to for holding the outlet valve in opened position. Referring more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates a. flush tank encased in a suitable box 2 and containing in.

its bottom openings 3 and at. Disposed in and ;6Xt6IlCllI1g thI'O11gh-' tl'l6 openingB'is a bushing 5, the upper end of which is,pro-

vided with a flanged head 6 betweenwhich I and the upper surface of the bottom ofthc tank 1 1s elamped a rubber gasket or washer 7 to insure a tight fit between the head of, the bushing and the" bottom of the tank.

Threaded upon the bushing5 adjacent the I lower end thereof and bearing; against the lower surface of the box 2,, is a nut 8, by I which the bushing is held in place in the opening Extending longitudinally through the bushing'5 is an opening 9 which constitutes the inlet opening for 'the'flu sh tank. The head 6 of the bushing i's'pro vided'with a circular rib 10 around the edge ofthe opening 9 and a spaced Ushapedrib 11 leaving a channel 12 between the latter and the rib 1O. As shown the -ril: -1O'.'is less' height thantherib 11. Forme'ctintegrally withthe head 6 of the bushing 5' and extending upwardly therefromfroin .the'

space included: between um ends of the; U- shaped rib 11 is an arm 13. p 1 Pivote'd" to the arm 13 at 14t intermediate of its ends is a lever 15, thepiivot 14- being considerably closer to one end of the lever than it is to the other.

long arm of the lever isbent arcuately and has suspended from its freeend' receptacle The short arm of. the lever 15' carries a weight 16,;whi-le the 17, which as shown is open fatithe top'. The means for suspending the receptacle 17 to the lever 15 is loosely connected to the latterfso that thereceptacle'will always assume an uprlght position irrespective 'of the i position that the lever isini' At 1 a point located be tween h pivot 14 a d he "free enact the long'arm of the lever-15 the latter is-pro vided'with a laterally extending lug l 18, purpose of which will be hereinafter' de" scribed.

' The mist aha consists of a dis'kfi'e 'ha' vlng secured to its lower side in any? suitable manner a rubber disk 20 and being'provided on its upper'side with an upright ear' 2'1- to which the lower end of a link'22'is pivoted.

The upper endof the link 22'islpivote'd at joins the head 6 of the bushing 5 is provided.

with an opening QQ-Communicating with the aforementioned channel 12, and having one end secured by soldering, threading or other-- wise in this opening is a pipe 25 which extends in a diagonal and upward direction and has its upper end curved arcuately so as to discharge downwardly.

Disposed in and extending through the opening 4 is a bushing 26 having a flanged head 27 at its upper end, between which and the uppersurface of the bottom of the tank 1 is clamped a ring 28 and a rubber gasket or washer 29, the latter servingto provide a tight fit between the bushing and the opening in the flush tank. Threaded upon the bushing 26 and bearing against the lower side of the box 2 is a nut 30, by which the bushing 26 is maintained in place in the opening 4.

The ring 28 just described. carries a laterally and horizontally extending extension 31 having formed integrally with the free end thereof an upright arm 32 the upper end of which is bent horizontally to form a horizontally extending arm Extending laterally and horizontally from the arm is a wing 34 having an opening therein, and extending upwardly from the upper edge of the arm 33 is an apertured ear 36.

The outlet valve consists of a disk 37 provided with a lateralextension or arm 38. from one edge of which and at the free'end thereof is struckupwardly an car 39, which is pivoted at 40 tothe arm 32 of the bracket. Secured at the lower side of the disk 37 is a rubber disk 41, the secljiring means consisting of a clamping disk 4.2 and a screw 43 which extends through the three disks and has its inner end threaded in a weighted head 41 ldisposed upon the upper side of the disk 37. When closed, the valve rests upon anannular rib 4:5 disposed at the edge of an opening 46 formed in the bushing 26. The opening 46 .is the outlet opening" for thetank. I i

The head 4.4 is provided with an ear 4?. to which. the lower end of a link 48 pivoted. 'The upper end of the link 48 is pivotally connected to anarm49 carried by a rock-shaft 50 mounted transversely of the tank and carrying suitable means for open ating it,shown in dotted lines. The link 48 is slidable through the opening in the wingii and is provided adjacent its lower end with a downwardly extending book 51. hook-51.alsoextends outwardly and the portion of :the link 48 disposed abovethe hook is inclined inwardly to'forni in effect a wedge 01' cam;

balance the short arm of the lever.

1 ,aaaeos Pi'voted to the car 36 by means of a pivot 52 is a lever 58, the short arm of which consists of a head 54: heavier than the long arm of the lever so that the head 54 will over- The inner edge of the head is provided with an upwardly extending hook adapted to interlock with the hook carried by the link 4:8. The long arm of the lever 53 is positioned so that when the lever 15 rocks on its pivot and its long arm descends, the lug 18 will contact with the same.

hen the tank 1 is filled and the various parts of the mechanism are at rest, both of the valves are closed, the inlet'valve being held tightly upon its seat through the medium of the link 22 by the lever lowhich assumes a diagonal position by reason of the fact that the counter-weight 16 carried at the short enact the lever overba-lances the long arm of the same and the receptacle 1? which will be understood is almost entirely filled. with water. The outlet valve is maintained in closed position upon its seat by means of the weighted head 44:. I ll hen in normal position the books 51 and are ob viously not in engagement. Vl iththe parts in this position and it is desired to flush the tank. the roclnshaft 50 is rocked. so as to swing the arm 49 and raise the link 48 and open the outlet valve. During the upward movement of the link 4-8 the wedge-shaped portion of its hooked extension will engage the lower portion of the hook 55 of the head of the lever and rock said lever upon its pivot until the hook 51 passes beyond the hook 55. After this point has been passed the lever will swing under the weight of neath the hook 51 and. engages the same so as to hold the outlet valve and. parts associated therewith in opened position. The outlet being opened the water in the tank will pass out of the same through the outlet opening 46; and as the water level lowers the lever 15 will swing upon its-pivot gradually opening the inlet valve. The rate of flow through the inlet valve is considerably less than the rate of-llow through the outlet valve, and therefore the gradual opening of the inlet valve, will not prevent the tank from being quickly and completely drained. When the tank is completely drained sothat the long arm of the lever 15 has descended to substantially a horizontalpo'sition, the lug 18 will contact with the long arm of the lever 53 and swing said lever upon its pivot so as to disengage the hook. 55'from the hook 51. As soon as this is done the outlet valve willwclose under its own weight; As the tank is filling the lever 15 will swing to its normal position, and the parts are auto matically set for another operation.-

lhe parts o the lever iii are proportioned that in air when thei"eceptacle 1.? is empty the long arm of said lever, will be overbalanced by the short arm, but when the receptacle is filled or'almost filled with'wat'er, the long armwin overbalance the shortarm. However, when water is in the tank 1 the receptacle willbe partly submerged in the water and the lever 15 will be balanced, the receptacle in efiectfloatingupon the water and rising and falling with the level thereof, but should the interlocking engagementof the hooks 55 and 51 be hardto' break upon engagement of the long arm of the lever 53 by the lug 18 of the lever l5', movement of the lever 15 would be arrested. As the level of the water in'the tank 1 continues to descend, the-receptacle 17 would no longer floats in the water'of the tank butwould be suspended from the lever '15 and therefore the dead weight of the receptacle 17 would overbala-nce the, weight of the counterweight 16 and the long arm of the'lever .15

. would thereby be caused'to exert considerable downward pressure uponthe long arm of thelever 53 and this increased downward pressure would insure movement or the lever 53 to the position where its 11001155 would become disengaged frorrr thefhook '-51.

The recep'table is in'aintailnedifilled by means of the pipe'or tube 25 which has its discharge end placed so as to discharge into the receptacle and which has its inlet end connected to the head of the bushing 5 so as to take a small percentage of the water which passes through the inlet.

Heretofore flush tanks have'been provided with ball valves and ball floats, but these have been very unsatisfactory, as the valves and floats corrode and become punctured, and the whole mechanism then becomes useless. In the mechanism above described this disadvantage is overcome by reason of the fact that there are no valves orfloats liable to puncture. In case the water or other fluid contained in the tank is of a nature capable of corroding, the receptacle 17 may be made of glass or some other non-corro sive material. The opening and closing of the inlet and outlet valves is positive. and the valves are held in opened and closed position by positive means, so that there'is little likelihood of the valves leaking or the various parts of the mechanism from properly functioning.

Various changes in form, proportion, and

in the minor details of construction may:

be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is: V

1. A device of the class described com prising a tank having inlet and outlet openings therein, an inlet valve for said inlet opening, a bushing disposed in and extending through said outlet opening and provided at its inner end with a head and a valve seat, aringclamped'between said head and said tank and provided with a lateral eatension, an -upright-aini formed integral with the outer end of said extension, a horizontal arm extending-laterally from the upper end of said upright arm, aguide' carried bysai'd I Said li'n'k for swinging said leveras said valveis opened to position-said "elements for interlocking engagement; and movable member'having its movement' controlled by the level of the liquidin said-tank and 'connected to said inlet valve'to open-the latter as the' level' of theliquid'in' said tank descends, said member being positioned" for en'- g'agein en't with said lever when said tank has been flush'ed'to swing saidlev r anddis? engage said "element to permit said outlet valveflto close; 7 g

2. .A' device of fthe characten described comprising a tank; having janinlet and' afn outlet, a valve for the-inlet, actuating means for the' inle'tjvalve 'inoluding arm pivotally" mounted for vertical swinging :movement, an open receptacle carried by said arm and constituting a float and adapted to receive a weight producing substance, an abutment extending from said arm, a valve for the outlet opening inwardly, actuating means for the outlet valve including a rod extending upwardly and having alatch engaging tooth, and a latch having a body portion provided with a handle and a hook pivotally mounted ofi' center to normally position the hook element in position for engaging the latch engaging tooth when the outlet valve is moved to an open position, the handle extending to engage the abutment extending from said arm and interrupt downward swinging of the arm until said receptacle hangs as a dead weight and moves the'latch to release the outlet valve.

3. A. device of the character described comprising a tank having a valve controlled float carried by said arm, actuating means inlet and a valve controlled outlet, actuating for the outlet valve including a vertically disposed rod having a latch engaging tooth.

normally in position for engaging the latch tooth of said rod when the rod is moved upwardly to open the outlet valve and retain the valve open, and a handle for said latch extending for engagement by said swingi arm to interrupt downward movement therea latch mounted above the outlet valve and q of during emptying of the tank until the float hangs as a dead Weight and moves the latch to release said rod and permit closing of the outlet valve.

4. A device of the class described comprising a tank having inlet and outlet openings therein, inlet and outlet valves for said inlet and outlet openings respectively, means for opening said outlet valve, means for holding said outlet valve open when opened, a lever fu-lcrurned intermediate of its ends in said tank and operatively connected With said jinletvalve, one arm of said lever being positioned for engagement .With said holding means to trip the latter and permit said outlet valve to close,-;a liquid receptacle suspended upon one arm of said lever and being. open at the top, a counter-Weight carried by the other arm of said lever, said receptacle when containing liquid being heavier in air than said counter-Weight but being balanced by said vcounter-Weight when partly submerged in the liquid in said tank so that it Will rise and fall with the level thereof, and means tor supplying said receptacle with a small percentage ofthe liquid which passes through said inlet valve and including a pipe extending from said inlet valve and having its discharge end positioned above said receptacle.

5. A-vdevice of the class described c01nprising a tank having inlet and outlet open ings therein, an outlet valve disposed in said outlet opening, means for operating said outlet valve, means for holding said outlet valve open When opened, a bushing disposed in and extending through said inlet opening and provided on its inner end with a valve seat and a channel surrounding the same, an upright arm formed on the inner end of said bushing, a lever pivoted intermediate. of its ends to said arm and having one arm positioned for engagement with said holding means to trip the latter and permit said outlet valve to close, a counter-\veight on one end of said lever and a receptacle on the other end thereof, said receptacle being open at the top and When containing liquid being heavier in air than said counter-weight but being balanced by said counter-Weight When partly submerged in the liquid in said tank so that it Will rise and fall with the level thereof, and inlet valve seating upon said valve seat, a connection between said lever and said inlet valve, and a pipe leading from said channel and having its discharge end disposed above said receptacle so as to supply the latter with a small percentage of the liquid Which passes through said inlet valve. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

EDWARD LEEBERG. 

